South African spinner Keshav Maharaj delivered a career-best performance of 5-33, leading his team to a decisive 98-run victory over Australia in the first one-day international at Cairns on Tuesday. South Africa posted 296-8, the highest ODI total at Cazaly’s Stadium, before dismissing Australia for 198 with more than nine overs remaining.Australia’s chase began promisingly with Travis Head scoring 27 runs, including five boundaries in a single over against Nandre Burger, helping the team reach 60-0 in seven overs.The momentum shifted dramatically when South Africa introduced their spinners during the batting power play. Australia collapsed from 60-0 to 89-6, with Maharaj claiming five wickets.Debutant Prenelan Subrayen started the collapse by dismissing Head, followed by Maharaj’s remarkable spell that removed Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, and Aaron Hardie.Mitchell Marsh fought back with 88 runs off 96 balls, partnering with Ben Dwarshuis for a 71-run stand. However, Lungi Ngidi and Burger cleaned up the tail after the spinners’ impressive spells.Earlier, South Africa’s batting performance was anchored by three half-centuries. Aiden Markram scored 82, captain Temba Bavuma contributed 65, and Matthew Breetzke added 57.Travis Head emerged as Australia’s most successful bowler, taking 4-57, including three wickets in the death overs.Ryan Rickelton and Markram provided a strong start with a 92-run opening partnership before Rickelton was caught by Labuschagne off Head’s bowling for 33.
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Markram’s innings ended in the 24th over when he edged a delivery from Dwarshuis to the keeper. Bavuma, playing his first international since South Africa’s World Test Championship final victory, struggled initially but found support in Breetzke, who scored freely against Australia’s spinners.The middle order saw quick dismissals as Head removed both Tristan Stubbs and debutant Dewald Brevis. Brevis managed a six off his first ODI delivery before falling to the next ball. Wiaan Mulder provided late impetus with a quick 31 off 26 balls.South Africa faced a setback before the match as pace bowler Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of the ODI series due to ankle inflammation. Kewena Maphaka, the leading wicket-taker in the recent T20 series, replaced him in the squad but didn’t play in this match.The victory gave South Africa a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against Australia, who had recently won the T20 series 2-1.This was the first ODI between these teams since Australia’s victory in the 2023 World Cup semifinals, as their scheduled Champions Trophy meeting in March was abandoned due to rain.
